It’s a week before your trip and you get the sniffles…now what? Of course the sniffles can be just that — a minor inconvenience that quickly clears up before takeoff. In most cases, just a false alarm.
But it can also morph into something else, possibly interfering with the trip you’ve spent months planning and paying for.
Life being what it is, occasionally medical issues, extreme weather or other events crop up and force us to interrupt our travel plans.
Get “you-never-know” protection
If you already have travel insurance, check your policy. It may already have coverage for trip cancellation or trip interruption. If so, make sure you have enough coverage. If not, it’s a good idea to add or top up, especially as you’re investing a lot of time and money in your trip.
What’s the difference between trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance? Trip cancellation kicks in if certain medical or non-medical events occur before you leave home, so you’re reimbursed on all or some costs, depending on your coverage. Trip interruption reimburses you if a similar set of events occur after you leave home and during your trip and you’re forced to return home.
Check your policy, if you have one, and talk to a licensed agent before planning your trip. Generally, coverage can vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer or a pregnancy.
- When you booked your trip, when you bought travel insurance and when the event forcing you to cancel or interrupt occurs
- Your traveling companion’s coverage
- When you make a claim
So plan your travel with confidence, and never mind those sniffles.